Portable fan



1933- A. P; c. scHhAMM PORTABLE FAN Filed 0cm 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet lNVENTOR-' K A fTORNEI E- NOV. 21, 1933. jp c. SCHRAMM 1,936,311

' V PORTABLE FAN r I Filed Oct. 6, 1931 z'sneqts-sheet 2 ATTORN Y8,

Patented N v.21, i933 I 1,936,31t

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFica PORTABLE Adolf r. e. Schramm, New York, N. 1 Application October 6, 1931: Serial No. 567,185

8 Claims. (Cl. 230-117) This invention is a novel portable fan, or an column within which is contained the drive electrically driven portable mechanism for mainmechanism as will be described. Continuing the taining air circulation within a room and --perdescription of the parts seen from the exterior, forming certain allied functions as will be deas in-Figs. 1 and 2, above the hollow column 11 scribed. are shown first the lower wall portion 12 of the 0 The main object of the present invention is to fan chamber and thereabove the upper wall porafford an improved portable or table fan emtion 13 of the same. The wall 12 may either be bodying adjustments of action or air flow to enfitted to the top end of the hollow column, or able a better utilization thereof. A particular formed integrally therewith, while the upper wall 0 object is to afford an improved arrangement of 13 is constructed separate from the wall 12, these 85 a horizontal fan of the blower type, with driving being brought together in assembly after the asmotor beneath and air inlets above, or vice sembly of the interior mechanism. Above the versa. A further object is to provide a plural upper chamber wall 13 is shown an enclosing 3 number of air discharge slots or outlets which cover 14, which is preferably a separate element 1 15 are separately adjustable in regard to the size assembled during manufacture. Above the cover ?70 or width of the discharge outlet, the force or is shown a cylindrical extension 15 in the form velocity of the delivered stream of air, and the of a cupola and which may be employedas a direction of delivery; particularly to provide for water vessel for humidifying purposes, this being the selective adjustment of the several outlets closed at the top by removable cap 16.

so that some may be closed while others are open, Referring to the interior parts, and commenc- 75 according to the needs, and so that one or more ing at the base, a set of fixed brackets 19 is shown of them may 'be relatively tilted upwardly or giving support to a rheostat or controller 20 havdownwardlywith respect to the normal direction ing a handle or lever 21 by which the rheostat of delivery. may be adjusted to vary the speed of the motor Other and further objects and advantages and-fan.

of the present invention will be explained in the Within the upper part of the-hollow'colufiin 11 hereinafter following description of an illusare shown fixed brackets 24 giving support to trative embodiment thereof or will be understood an electric motor 25 which as usual may'comprise to those conversant with the subject. To the the fields 26 and armature 2'1, the latter having 85 attainment of such objects and advantages the a central vertical axis.

present inventionconsists in the novel table fan, The shaft of the motor 25 is shown extended and the novel features of operation, combinaat 29 and at its upper end carrying a blower fan tion, construction and detail herein illustrated comprising a horizontal disk 30 with upstanding or described. blades 31. The fan thus constructed draws air In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a down centrally from above and throws it censide elevation of a table fan resting portably trifugally outward in a generally horizontal diupon a table and embodying the several features rection.

of the present invention. Conveniently the water regulating meanslfor Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the fan shown in air moistening purposes may now be described.

40 Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away to show The hub or central part. of the fan disk '30 is the construction beneat shown as having an upward extension 33 with Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the fan a central projection or teat in the form of a cone shown in Figs. 1 and 2. at the top thereof. At the foot of the cone, at- Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line tachedto thehub, is a hold-down or plate 35form- 5 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking from above. 1 ing a circular recess or groove in which may be Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken onthe line accommodated a non-rotating disk or plate 36 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking from the interior. from which connections extend to the water regu- Fig. 6 is a wiring-diagram showing a conlating valve. venient hook-up for the fan driving motor and The vessel 15 may contain a supply of water 0 the air heating'units of the apparatus. as shown. In the bottom wall of the vessel is Referring to the illustrateddetails of construcshown a conical seat and outlet 37, normally tion, the fan of this invention is shown as comclosed by the conical lower end of a valve needle 'prising a hollow base 10 adapted to rest upon 'a or rod 38. The needle valve rod or spindle may table, desk or the like, and upstanding above the be movable vertically within fixed slideways 39 55 base a h ll w asin in the general m of 2' arranged. centrally within the vessel. The vessel no latter as follows.

paratus is idle, and so as to hold inlet openings 46, and for opposite sides, and within these guides vertical rods 41 capable of ating the valve.

The valve actuating the vessel bottom and sliding up and down for actuat their lower ends are cross-connected by the plate or disk 36. At their upper ends, within the vessel, the rods are connected by a head or bar 42, which head has a loose engagement around the valve needle .or spindle 38. The rigid frame thus formed by the plate 36, the head 42 and the two rods 41, is adaptedto be adjusted upwardly and downwardly and this movement may be performed by the bodily vertical shifting movements of the fan 30, 31 produced in turn by the bodily movements of the motor armature which shifts upwardly and downwardly between different floating positions in the motor as will be more fully described.

While the cross-head 42 loosely surrounds'the it is arranged to actuate the Normally, when the apparatus is idle the valve is closed and the cross-head'is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 3. A stop 43 is shown in the form of a pin extending through the spindle slightly above the cross-head so' that when the latter starts to'rise it contacts the stop and thereafter, lifts the valve spindle. Preferably a spring is interposed between the spindle and cross-head, for example a tension spring 44, arranged to pull, down upon the spindle so as to hold the valve closed when the apthe stop, 43 in contact with the cross-head 42 during operation.

The arrangement gives four different adjustvalve spindle 38 -ments tothe needle valve corresponding to the four different positions of, the motor armature as indicated by the dotted-lines in Fig. 3. The feed of water is thus roughly proportioned to the speed of the fan. The needle valve allows the water to-descend drop by drop, at varying speeds,-upon the'teat 34, which may split each drop, the water spreading over the. surface of the hold-down plate 35 and'being rapidly picked up by the descending intake air, vaporized, and thrown out horizontally with the air delivered by the fan.

The air is taken in through the cover 14, which I for this purpose is shown formed with a series of action of the fan can by adjustment of the this purpose a damper disk 4'7 is shown at the under sidof the cover, subject 'to rotation by "a handle 48.

The warming of the delivered air is herein effected by an arrangement of resistance wires damper openings 46. The be regulated to advantage I 50 located in the intake, preferably immediately beneath the cover 14'. No air therefore can get into or be delivered from the fan without being subjected to the warming action of the heating elements. This arrangement has the further ad'- vantagethat, when the air is both to be warmed .and moistened, thepreliminary warming of the air assists greatly in picking up the moisture de-,

livered by the needle valve. I

The resistance wire 50 may be arrangedin different forms, but as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 it is stretched across the annular space surrounding the water vessel, namelybetween, in'ner supporting hooks 51 mounted on an insulated ring 52 and'outer supporting hooks 53 mounted on an Havingdescribed the electric parts of the apparatus, the circuits in Fig. 6 will now be referred its field coils 26 and armature 27 is diagrammatically shown. r The suprods 41 extend through positions b, c and d the "shown in the zero controlling both outward through ply of electric current is indicated by a generator G and from the generator extends a circuit 9 to the motor and to the rheostat 20 shown as comprising resistance wire between switch points. Four switch points are shown, a, b,"c' and d. When the switch lever 21 is at position a all current is cut off, the speed is zero, and the armature takes its lowest position as shown in Fig. 3. When the switch lever 21 is shifted to point Dthe circuit is closed for minimum current and speed interaction the armature from its bottom position a to a higher position b as indicated in dotted lines. in Fig. 3. When the lever is shifted to position 0 a medium current and speed are ailorded and the armature lifts to positionc.

'When the lever is thrown into'position d the maximum current and speed are afforded and the armature 'rises to its topmost position d. In armature and fan are in floating condition, dispensing with thrust bearing at the foot of the three positions gives. an open adjustment of the shaft, and each of these needle valve, the water delivery thereby being regulated in accordance with the speed of action. The heating coil 56 is connected in a circuit a paralleling the motor and this circuit may include a toggle switch 9 by which the current can be permanently cut shown in Fig. 6 whereby the heating current is cut off with the stopping of the fan. Behind the switch lever 21 is an auxiliary switch lever 56 or a position. When the two levers are shifted d the circuit is closed to the resistance wire] through thelever 56 and a separate contact at d. The auxiliary lever is yieldingly connected to the switch lever'by a spring 57. The auxiliary ofi. An arrangement is 106 to the first operating position 110 lever comes against a stop 58 holding it there,

with the circuit closed through the heater coil, unaffected by further movement of lever. Whenever' the switch lever 21 is thrown to stop the motor this restores lever 56 and cuts off the current from the resistance The circuits thus illustratively shown may be varied and embodied in many difierent physical arrangements. By dispensing with lever 56 and circuits by lever 21 the degree of heating of the coil 50 will be varied motor speed if desired. The air discharge from the fan is horizontally a number of discharge openings chamber walls 12 and 13. Four openings are shown, but there might be three or five or other plural number. Attached within the casing or wall at each comer, or between each two discharge openings, is shown an angle piece or casting 61, one side of which forms a supporting bracket for one of the discharge control means to be described, the other side constituting'a bracket for the adjacent dis:

charge means. Extending across from one bracket 61 to another, within each discharge opening60, iscertain mechanism directing and 60 formed in the such discharged controlling the outflow of air. One of these eleth switch elements.

with the 5 tain other parts. At its left end each rotary air 15 box is supported upon pivot stud 68,

the control of a pair of its bracket by a pivot stud 67 and at the other. end is shown a right these two studs being suitably secured to the rotary box so as to turn with it. Each end piece 63 or 64 may be substantially circular,

and hold-down plates or angles 69 may be arranged to confine their inner sides.

Each rotary air box may be rotated to a limited extent to change the direction of delivery of air by tilting the same upwardly or downwardly. The following meansmay be employed for this adjustment. The right-hand pivot stud 68 is shown as extended through the wall of the bracket or angle piece 61 and there enlarged into an exterior head or fork '71. A rod 72 is shown extended through the two sides of the fork this rod extended outwardly and formed with a knurled head or handle 73. These handles appear in the exterior views of Figs. 1 and 2 as well as in Figs. 3 and 4. Any one of the four handles may be independently swungup and down to rotate the pivot stud and the air box, thereby directing the *air stream either horizontallyor ata desired upward or downward tilt. When used on a desk or table the air therefore may be varied in direction to suit the convenience or comfort of the user.

The same handle '73 and rod '12 are employed for louvers to be described, mounted on each rotary air box 62. The rod 72, between the sides of the fork '71, is provided witha 'collar 74 clamped to the rod, preventing. endwise play but permitting rotation. The extremity of the rod is threaded at '75 and this thread is engaged in a threaded aperture in a stud or head '76, so that by turning the knurled head '73 the stud "(6 is thrust longitudinally. The stud '76 is shown extending inwardly through a cutaway recess of the angle piece 61, and at the inner side of the angle piece the stud is extended as a threaded pin 7'7 carrying lock nuts for confining on the pin a pair of links 78. A face view of these parts is seen at the left side of Fig. 3. The links '78 extend from the radially moving stud or pin '17 to an upper bail or U-shaped strip and a similar lower bailblades in turn carry respectively an upp r louver 82 and a lower louver 83.

By this arrangement the turning of the knurled head '73 causes the links to operate the bails and louvers to swing the latter more or less toward or from each other. Thus at the left side of Fig. 3 the louvers are swung fairly close together, affording a narrow and forcible air stream, which also is directed horizontally outward. At the other or right side the knurled-handle has been turned to adjust the louvers to a wide open position, giving an increased flow but reduced velocity of air; and for illustration the air box at this side has been shown tilted upwardly by the handle '13. Each handle therefore readily gives the two adjustments, namely of the tilted angle of discharge, and of the width of discharge passage or slot, between maximum opening and closed position.

The water supply regulation means described is illustrative of the principle involved, and may be replaced by an electric solenoid control, adjusting the valve according to the fan speed; or a centrifugal governor would serve; or the water by its own centrifugal force could be caused to flow in quantities variable with the speed of the fan through restricted passages for delivery to the air streams.

There has thus been described a portable fan embodying the principles and attaining the ob- ;iects of the present invention. Since many matters of operation, combination, construction and detail may be variously modified without departing from the principles it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters, except so far as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable or table driven vertical shaft carrying a fan disk and fan blades affording centrifugal air delivery and a casing within which the fan rotates having air intake opening above the fan and a plurality of separate air discharge openings at the periphery; and characterized by a delivery box bodily tiltable to vary the discharge direction, and having upper and lower wall parts forming each discharge opening between them as a horizontal slit with manual means to tilt upward or downward said delivery box for adjusting the direction of discharge. v

2. A portable'or table fan having a motordriven vertical shaft carrying a fan disk and fan blades affording centrifugal air delivery and a casing within which the fan rotates having air intake opening above the fan and a plurality of separate air discharge openings at the periphcry; and characterized by a delivery box at each discharge opening presenting a horizontal discharge slit, with means to regulate the width of. such slit, and means to tilt the delivery box upwardly and downwardly.

3. A portable fan as in claim 2 and wherein for each discharge opening is a single handle with connections both for regulating the width of discharge slit and the upward or downward tilt of discharge.

4. A- ventilating fan comprising fan blades affording centrifugal airzdelivery, and a casing having an air intake opening and having one or moreair discharge openings at the periphery; and characterized by an interior delivery box bodily tiltable to vary each opening, and having outer wall parts forming each discharge opening between them as a horizontal slit, with means to tilt upward or fan having a motorthe discharge direction at downward each delivery box for adjusting the direction of discharge. r

5. A ventilating fan comprising a housing with an air inlet and one or more peripheral apertures for centrifugal air discharge, and a control means for each such discharge consisting of an interior delivery box comprising upper and lower walls forming a discharge chamber between them and bodily tiltable to vary the discharge direction.

6. A ventilating fan comprising a housing with an air inlet and one or more peripheral apertures for centrifugal air discharge, and a controlmeans for each such discharge consisting of an interior delivery box comprising upper and lowcontrol means for each such discharge consisting of an interior delivery box comprising upper and lower,walls forming a discharge chamber between them and bodily tiltable to vary the discharge direction; and outer wall parts for each box forming between them a horizontal discharge slit, and means for adjusting said outer fan comprising a housing with 8. A ventilating tan an air inlet and on tures for centrifug means for each s interior delivery walls forming a and bodily tiltable to 7 1,988,811 wall parts to regulate the width or the discharge slit.

comprising a housing with e or more peripheral aper-- a1 air discharge, and a control uch discharge consisting 01' an box comprising upper and lower ge chamber between them vary the discharge direction; and outer wall parts for each box forming between them a horizontal discharge slit, and

means for adjusting said outer wall parts to regulate the width 01'- the discharge slit; with a single handle or controller having connectionsboth to the box or for regulating the tilt of the discharge and to the wall parts for're'gulating the width 01' the discharge slit.

ADOLF P. 0. SCHRAMM. 

